X-ray fluoroscopic device



April 15, 1958 w. JL'DALY 2,831,123

X-RAY FLUOROSCOPIC DEVICE Filed July 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT ORATTORNEYS April 15, 1958 w. J. DALY 2,831,123

X-RAY FLUORQSCOPIC DEVICE Filed July 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORWefisiel' Jim/y ATTORNEYS United States Patent X-RAY FLUOROSCOPIC DEVICEWebster J. Daly, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 11, 1956, Serial No. 597,211

8 Claims. (Cl. 250-31) The present invention relates in general tomobile supporting apparatus for equipment for use in the inspection andstructural analysis of manufactured structures, metallurgical studies,and the like, and more particularly to mobile X-ray supporting apparatusfor X- ray inspection and analysis of air frame structures andcomponents thereof.

X-ray equipment for inspection and analysis of structures is by naturerather cumbersome and difiicult to manipulate, particularly whenemployed in such applications as X-ray analysis of large manufacturedarticles and structures. This arises both from the character of theX-ray facilities, and from the fact that the source of X-ray energy andthe visualizing facility such as the fluorescent screen, photographicplates or the like, must be located so that the structure being analyzedis interposed between the source and the visualizing facility along theprincipal emission axis of the source. Such equipment is difficult tomanipulate with the precision necessary for accurate X-ray analysis and,when used on industrial locations, presents substantial problems inprotection of the X-ray equipment against damage and avoidance ofaccidental exposure of the photographic plates arising from spuriousradiation. Also, there is always present the problem of affordingadequate protection to personnel against exposure to X-ray energy.-

An object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of novelapparatus for supporting X-ray equipment adapted for the inspection andanalysis of struc tures, structural components and the like which has ahigh degree of mobility and which is arranged to facilitate preciselocation of the X-ray source and visualizing facilities relative to thestructure being inspected.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novel mobilesupporting apparatus for industrial X-ray equipment and the like whereinprovision is made for precise independent control of the X-ray sourceand visualizing components from protected remote locations.

Another object of the present invention is theprovision of novel mobilesupporting apparatus for industrial X- ray equipment having facilitiesfor remote visual inspection of the X-ray image and for remote controlof photographic plates to shift the same between exposure locations andexposure-preventing facilities.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novel mobilesupporting apparatus for industrial X- ray equipment having means forproducing stereoscopic and planographic X-ray records subject to preciseconrol from protected remote locations. w Other objects, advantages andcapabilities of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing detail description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, showing only a preferred embodiment of the invention.

in the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of an industrial X-ray supporting unit withparts of the control cab bio cenaway to reveal the interior thereof, theunit being illustrated in a position of use;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the industrial X-ray supporting unit;

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the severalfigures, the industrial X-rayunit of the present invention, generally indicated by the referencecharacter it is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in a typical position inuse in relation to an airplane 11, as an illustrative example, to makean X-ray inspection of the structure of the wing 12 of the airplane inconnection with studies of the internal structure of the metal and thelike. The X-ray unit 10 comprises in general an operators cab 13 in theform of a generally rectangular enclosure of sufiicient size toconveniently accommodate a human operator, which is suitably shielded asby lining the same with lead to protect the operator against exposure toRoentgen radiation. One wall of the operators cab 13 preferably containsa plurality of windows 14 fitted with lead glass, or like opticallytransparent protective material which is substantially impervious toX-rays, to give the operator a clear view of the work field. Theoperators cab 13 is preferably supported on a hydraulic or electricalhoist framework 15 to support the cab at selected elevations above theground level or floor level in the working area under the control of theoperator, the hoist 15 having friction relieving means 16 such aswheels, casters or the like, for ease of mobility of the X-ray unit.Projecting from the wall of the operators cab 13 having the windows 14therein, is a control hub or mechanism housing 17 having a pair of bowedarms 18, 19 which project along shallow arcuate paths arching away fromeach other from pivotal mountings at the inner ends of the arms 18, 19within the control hub 17. The outer'terminal portion or free end of theuppermost arm 18 supports an X-ray tube 20 for adjustment in a manner tobe later described, and the terminal portion of the lowermost arm 19movably supports a conventional fluoroscope 21, and a television camera22 arranged to detect the fluoroscope image and transmit the same totelevision monitor tubes 23 connected by a closed circuit televisionnetwork to the television camera 22 and located within the operators cab13 and any one or more of a plurality of remote viewing stations such asan office, a supervising booth or the like, one of which gatedstructural members over the major portion of the arms 18, 19, comprisinga web 26 and channel sides 27, 28. The inner end portions of the arms18, 19 are provided with enlarged toothed segments 29 having teeth 30along the arcuately curved peripheries of the toothed.

segments 29, and are pivotally supported for movement Within a planeintersecting the horizontal axis of the control hub 17 on pivots 31fixed to the Wall of the hub 17. v

The teeth 36 of the toothed sectors 29 of the arms 18, 19 project towardeach other from their pivots 31 to a location adjacent the horizontalaxis of the hub 17 and are meshed with worms 32 arranged in parallelismwith the horizontal axis of the hub and journalled in suitable bearingsprojecting from the walls of the hub. The worms 3?. are drivenindependently by reversible electric motors 33 supported within the hub17 adjacent its rear wall 34- and controlled by suitable switches intheir supply circuits located within the operators cab 13. By selectiveenergization of the reversible motors 33 under control of the switchesin the operators cab 13, the worms 32 can be driven to rotate the bowedarms 18, 19 toward or away form each other, independently orsynchronously, about their pivots 31 to desired positions of adjustment,whereby the arms 18, 19 may be conditioned to accommodate between themthe structural subject such as the airplane wing 12 in proper relationto intercept the X-ray energy emanating from the X-ray tube 20 towardthe fiuoroscope 21.

Projecting from the rear wall 34 of the control hub 17 is a hollowedshaft 35 which is integral with the control hub 17 and is in coaxialrelation with the projected horizontal axis of the hub 17. The hub shaft35 is jour nallcd for rotation about its axis in a suitable bearing 13,for driving a sprocket 53 about which is trained a 36 in the adjacentwall of the operators cab 13. A.

sprocket 37 is mounted on the end of the hub shaft 35 which projectsbeyond the inner end of the bearing 36 to be driven by a chain 38trained about a suitable sprockct on a reversible electric motor 39located within the operators cab 13 for effecting rotation of thecontrol hub 17 and its associated arms 18, 19 about is axis. Suitableswitches controlling the energizing circuit of the reversible motor 39are also provided within the cab 13 for facilitating control of thechain drive for the hub 17.

As is illustrated in Figure 2, each of the bowed arms 18, 19 areprovided with transversely enlarged regions extending over a substantialdistance adjacent their free ends, and over a major portion of thesetransversely enlarged regions the webs 26 of the arms 18, 19 areprovided with an elongated opening 40 for accommodating carriages 41 and42 for longitudinal movement along the arms 18, 19. The carriages 41, 42are each provided with rollers or wheels 43 projecting laterallytherefrom relative to the axis of movement of the carriages d1, 42 whichare received within inwardly opening tracks 44 formed along the channelsides 27, 28 and bounding the openings 49 to guide the carriages 41, 42during movement longitudinally of the arms 18, 19. The carv riage 41supported on the uppermost arm 18 is provided with inwardly openingtracks 45 which extend transversely of the longitudinal axis of the arm18 to receive rollers or wheels 46 projecting from a tube carriage 47 toaccommodate the tube carriage for movement transverse of thelongitudinal axis of arm 18 for the purpose of making stereoscopicX-rays. To elfect remote control of this transverse movement of thetubecarriage 47 in connection with stereoscopic X-ray exposures, areversible electric motor 48 is mounted on the tube carriage 47 and isassociated with a chain 49 affixed at its opposite ends to lateralmargins of the carriage 41 to draw the carriage 47 back and forth alongthe carriage 41 during rotation of the motor 48. Suitable switches areprovided in the operators cab 13 for controlling energiz ation of themotor 48.

The tube carriage 47 is designed to support the X-ray tube and comprisesa bearing housing schematically indicated at St to support the X-raytube 20 for rotation through an arc of 360 about a horizontal axisexteuding transversely of the longitudinalaxis of the arm 18, and areduction gearmotor 51 for rotating the X-ray tube 20 within its bearing59.

A reversible electric motor 52 is supported on the upper arm 18rearwardly of the opening 49,'which iscontrolled by suitable switcheslocated within the operators cab chain 54-. The chain extendslongitudinally of the arm 18 and is likewise trained about an idlerpulley or sprocket 55, and the two ends of the chain are anchored to thecarriage 41 to draw the carriage inwardly and outwardly along the arm 41in response to energization of the motor 52.

The carriage 42 supported on the tracks 44 of the lowermost arm 19supports a fluoroscope 21 and television camera 22 within the elongatedopening 40 of the arm 19 for movement inwardly and outwardly along thearm 19 under control of a reversible electric motor 56 and a chain drive57. A lead-shielded film safe 58 is also supported on the lower arm 19adjacent the rear end thereof for accommodating photographic plateswhich are desired to be stored in condition for protecting them fromexposure to radiation from the X-ray tube 20 until exposure is desired.Guide means 59 such as guide tracks or the like extend along the lowerarm 19 above the guide tracks 44 thereon from the film safe 58 to aposition overlying the fiuoroscope 21, and a chain 60 or other suitableconveyor driven from an electric motor 61 extends from the'film safe 58along the arm 19 and about an idler pulley or sprocket 62 disposedbeyond the film exposure position for withdrawing a photographic platefrom the film safe 58 and shifting the same to a position overlying thefluoroscope 21 to permit a permanent record of the X-ray image to berecorded.

By the above structure the operator in the control cab 13 may exercisefull control over the arms 18 and 19 supporting the X-ray tube 20, thefluoroscope 21, the television camera 22, and the photographic platepositioning mechanism to perform the various operations necessary tocomplete an X-ray study of manufactured structures and the like with ahigh degree of convenience and accuracy and with full protection fromexposure to X-radiation. The various components necessary foraccomplishment of the fluoroscopic examination and the permanentphotographic record of the X-ray image may be ellectively positioned inproper location to inspect the internal metal structure of relativelythin bodies, such as the airplane wing 12, by manipulation of the motors39 and 33 to position the arms 18, 19 in proper relation to direct theX-ray energy from the tube 20 through the structure and onto thefluoroscope 21. The present structure facilitates the production ofstereoscopic exposures, since the X-ray tube 20 can be shifted from sideto side transversely of the longitudinal axis of the upper arm 18 byenergization of the motor 48 to position the tube carriage 47 atlaterally spaced exposure positions, and energization of the motor 51 toorient the X-ray tube 20 relative to its axis so as to properly directthe X-ray energy along a major propagation axis from such spacedlocations onto the fluoroscope 21.

Production of plan'ographic X-ray exposures is likewise facilitated. Toaccomplish this, the operator, after properly positioning the X-ray tube20 and fluoroscope 21 at an appropriate initial location, willsimultaneously energize the motors 52 and 56 to gradually shift the X-ray tube 20 and fluoroscope 21 correspondingly or oppositely toward oraway from the operators cab 13.

If records are desired of X-ray analysis of enclosure walls or otherstructural bodies, such as the side walls of an airplane cabin solocated that the lower arm 19 cannot be positioned to receive the wallbetween the arms 18, 19, the upper arm 18 may be pivoted upwardly to aposition wherein the X-ray energy can be radiated along a substantiallyhorizontal axis away from the cab 13, and a photographic plate or thefluoroscopic unit formed by the fluoroscope 21 and television camera 22placed within the enclosure or cabin to image the X-ray pattern.

As is illustrated in Figures 3-5, suitable projecting guard frames 63may be provided on the arms 18, 19 to project toward each other andextend below and above the X-ray tube 20 and fluoroscope 21,respectively, the frames 63 being preferably of truncated triangularconfiguration with their major bases projected from the arms.Microswitches 64 are provided on the corners of these guard frames 63and have fingers 6'5 projecting from one of the electrical contacts ofeach of the microswitches to engage the structure being studied such asthe airplane wing 12, when either the X-ray tube or the fluoroscopeapproaches too near the wing and automatically close the associatedmicroswitch 64. The microswitch 64 will be electrically connected withsuitable relays or the like to open the energizing circuits to thevarious electric motors controlling movement of the components of theX-ray positioning assembly to prevent further movement of the X-ray tube20 or fiuoroscope 21 to a position which may damage these components.The attention of the operator is thereby directed to the improperpositioning of the X-ray components so that he can make suitableadjustments to avoid damage to the components.

While only one preferred embodiment of the invention has beenparticularly shown and described, it is apparent that othermodifications may be made in the invention without departing from thespirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only suchlimitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art andare set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Industrial X-ray apparatus for X-ray analysis and inspection ofstructural test objects and the like comprising an operators enclosureshielded against penetration of X-radiation through the walls thereof,means supporting said enclosure for movement along a surface, a pair ofelongated arms projecting from said enclosure for reception of a testobject between the remote ends thereof, an X-ray tube supported on theremote end of one of said arms, X-ray imaging means supported on theremote end of the other of said arms, means supporting said arms on awall of said enclosure for rotation as a group about a horizontal axisprojecting from said enclosure wall and for coplanar pivotal movementtoward and away from each other about axes adjacent the inner end ofsaid arms and extending perpendicular to said horizontal axis, means fordriving said arms about said axes, and means located in said enclosurefor controlling said driving means.

2. Industrial X-ray apparatus for X-ray inspection and analysis ofstructural test objects and the like comprising an operators enclosureshielded against X-radiation, mobile supporting means for said enclosurefor adjustably positioning the same at selected elevations above asupporting surface, a hub member supported in one wall of said enclosurefor rotation about a horizontal axis, a pair of elongated armsprojecting from said hub member for reception of a test object betweenthe remote ends thereof, an X-ray tube supported on the remote end ofone of said arms, X-ray imaging means on the remote end of the other ofsaid arms, said X-ray tube and fluorescent screen having aninterconnecting axis intercepting the test object when the same isdisposed between said arms, means pivotally mounting the inner ends ofsaid arms on said hub member for coplanar pivotal movement toward andaway from each other and from said horizontal axis, driving means forrotating said hub member, driving means for rotating said arms abouttheir pivotal axes independently and synchronously, remote control meansfor operating said driving means from a location within said enclosure,and means for producing a viewable image of the fluorescent screen imagewithin said enclosure.

3. Industrial X-ray apparatus for X-ray inspection and analysis ofstructural test objects and the like comprising an operators enclosureshielded against X-radiation, mobile supporting means for said enclosurefor adjustably positioning the same at selected elevations above asupporting surface, a hub member supported in one Wall of said enclosurefor rotation about a horizontal axis,

a pair of elongated arms projecting from said hub member for receptionof a test object between the remote ends thereof, an X-ray tubesupported on the remote end of one of said arms, X-ray imaging means onthe remote end of the other of said arms, said X-ray tube andfluorescent screen having an interconnecting axis intercepting the testobject when the same is disposed between said arms, means pivotallymounting the inner ends of said arms on said hub member for coplanarpivotal movement toward and away from each other and from saidhorizontal axis, driving means for rotating said hub member, drivingmeans for rotating said arms about their pivotal axes independently andsynchronously, remote control means for operating said driving meansfrom a location within said enclosure, carriage means for supportingsaid X-ray tube, carriage means for supporting said fluorescent screen,meanson the remote end portions of said arms supporting said carriagemeans for rectilinear movement longitudinally and transversely of saidarms, means controllable from said enclosure for driving said carriagemeans, and means for producing an observable image in said enclosure ofX-ray images of the test object formed on said fluorescent screen.

4. Industrial X-ray apparatus for X-ray inspection and analysis ofstructural test objects and the like comprising an operators enclosureshielded against X-radiation, mo bile supporting means for saidenclosure for adjustably positioning the same at selectedelevationsabove a supporting surface, a hub member supported in one wallof said enclosure for rotation about a horizontal axis, a pair ofelongated arcuate arms projecting from said hub member in oppositelycurving relation with each other and with said horizontal axis forreception of a test object between the remote ends thereof, an X-raytube sup ported on the remote end of one of said arms, X-ray imag ingmeans on the remote end of the other of said arms, said X-ray tube andfluorescent screen having an interconnecting axis intercepting the testobject when the same is disposed between said arms, means pivotallymounting the inner ends of said arms on said hub member for coplanarpivotal movement toward and away from each other about parallel spacedaxes symmetrically spaced from and extending transversely of saidhorizontal axis, first driving means for rotating said hub member,second driving means located in said hub memher for rotating said armsabout their pivotal axes independently and synchronously, remote controlmeans for operating said first and second driving means from a locationwithin said enclosure, first carriage means for supporting said X-raytube, second carriage means for supporting said fluorescent screen,track means on the remote end portions of said arms supporting saidcarriage means for rectilinear movement longitudinally of said arms,means for shifting said X-ray tube and said screen on their respectivecarriage means in directions extending transversely of said arms, meanscontrollable from said enclosure for driving said carriage means alongsaid track means and said tube and screen relative to their carriages,and means for producing an observable image in said enclosure of X-rayimages of the test object formed on said fluorescent screen.

5. Apparatus for X-ray inspection and analysis of air frame structureand the like comprising an operators cab, hoist means adjustablysupporting said cab at selected elevations above supporting surface,wheel means on said hoist, means rendering the same mobile along saidsupporting surface, a hub member rotatably sup ported in projectingrelation from one wall of said cab, a pair of elongated arms extendingfrom said hub member within a projected plane of the axis of said hubrnember, means pivotally mounting one end of each of said arms onsaidhub member for independent movement toward and away from each otherwithin said common plane, said arms having relatively divergent portionsadjacent the pivoted ends thereof and terminating in remote relativelyconverging portions, driving means coupled with said arms adjacent thepivoted ends thereof and coupled with said hub member for shifting saidarms independently and synchronously about their pivots and rotatingsaid hub member about its axis, means located within said cab foractuating said driving means, an X- ray tube, means supporting saidX-ray tube adjacent the remote end of one of said arms for longitudinaland transverse movement relative to the axis of its associated arm androtary adjustment about the axis of said tube, a fluorescent screen,means supporting said fluorescent screen on the other of said armsadjacent the remote end thereof for longitudinal and transverse movementrelative to the axis of its associated arm, remote control means forpositioning said X-ray and fluorescent screen on their associated armsand controllable from said cab, and means for producing a viewable imageWithin said cab of the fluorescent screen image.

6. In industrial 'X-ray apparatus for X-ray inspection and analysis ofstructure test objects and the like, the combination recited in claim 3,wherein said means for producing an observable image in said enclosurecomprises a closed circuit television system including a televisioncamera rigidly supported on said carriage means associated with saidfluorescent screen for sensing the X-ray images formed on saidfluorescent screen, and television monitor tube means located in saidenclosure for producing an image representative of the image sensed bysaid television camera means.

7. In industrial X-ray apparatus for X-ray inspection and analysis ofstructure test objects and the like, the combination recited in claim 4wherein said means for producing an observable image in said enclosurecomprises a television camera, means supporting said television camerain depending relation from said second carriage means to sense the X-rayimages produced on said fluorescent screen, a television monitordisposed in said enclosure, and closed circuit television means forproducing on the screen of said television monitor reproducers of theimages sensed by said television camera.

8. In industrial X-ray apparatus for X-ray inspection and analysis ofstructure test objects and the like, the combination recited in claim 4wherein said means for roducing an observable image in said enclosurecomprises a television camera, means supporting said television camerain depending relation from said second carriage means to sense the X-rayimages produced on said fluorescent screen, a television monitordisposed in said enclosure, and closed circuit television means forproducing on the screen of said television monitor reproducers of theimages sensed by said television camera, and wherein means are providedfor photographically recording X-ray images produced by X-ray emissionfrom said X-ray tube through the test object comprising an X-rayprotective safe supported on said arm associated with said fluorescentscreen at a position spaced toward said enclosure from said fluorescentscreen, and means controllable from said enclosure for withdrawingphotographic film from said safe and position the same in overlyingrelation to said fluorescent screen to intercept X- rays emanating fromsaid X-ray tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

